The story

Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday rejected criticism of his just-completed eight-day tour through the Middle East and Europe, saying the trip could ultimately help make him a more effective president.

"I was puzzled by this notion that somehow what we were doing was in any way different from what Sen. [John] McCain or a lot of presidential candidates have done in the past. Now, I admit we did it really well," Obama told journalists at a conference in Chicago, when asked about criticism that he may have come across as though he was running for "president of the world."

McCain traveled overseas in March after becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. He met with leaders and dignitaries, but his trip did not include a huge rally. Read full article »